What does an initial consultation with a lawyer cost?

Worries about high costs stop many people from asking a lawyer at all. Yet the first meeting is capped by law, you can see the price before booking, and in many cases someone else pays in the end. This article explains what an initial consultation costs, what it covers and where you can find the price on Rechtigo before you book an appointment.

The statutory cap

In § 34 RVG, the Lawyers' Remuneration Act (Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz) sets out what a lawyer may charge for advice. For a first consultation, they may charge consumers no more than 190 euros, i.e. no more than 226.10 euros including VAT. For further advice or a written expert opinion, the limit is 250 euros plus VAT. These limits apply to private individuals; businesses agree the fee freely.

The law also provides that the lawyer should agree a fee with you. Within the cap, the price is therefore up to the lawyer. Many state a fixed amount, for example 100 or 150 euros; some charge up to the statutory limit; a few offer the first meeting without a fee.

Where you see the price before booking

You don't have to call and ask about the price. On Rechtigo, every lawyer specifies how they charge for the initial consultation, and this information is shown on their lawyer card and in their profile before you choose an appointment: as a fixed price, for example “Initial consultation: 120 euros fixed price”, as charging under § 34 RVG at no more than 190 euros plus VAT, or as a note that they will state the price in the meeting. If the information is missing, the lawyer has not entered it; in that case, ask them at the start of the meeting.

In addition, right after you describe your case, the case roadmap shows you the typical cost range for your area of law. For a road traffic accident, for example, it says that the lawyer's fees are often paid by the other side's insurer; for a dismissal, that the value in dispute is usually based on three months' gross salary. For specific figures, there is the cost calculator. These are guide values; what is binding is what the lawyer agrees with you.

What the booking itself costs

Booking an appointment via Rechtigo is free for you, even if you do not instruct a lawyer afterwards. Rechtigo does not earn money from your case: lawyers pay a fixed monthly fee for their membership and no commission per client. That is why the platform has no interest in suggesting a more expensive lawyer to you.

When booking, you store a payment method. The only charge made to it is the cancellation fee of 10 euros if you cancel a confirmed appointment less than 24 hours in advance or do not show up. The same fee applies to the lawyer if they cancel at short notice. The lawyer charges you directly for the advice itself.

What the initial consultation covers

An initial consultation is a first assessment: the lawyer looks at your case and the most important documents and tells you what your chances are, which deadlines are running and what the next steps would be. On Rechtigo, they have already read your description and documents in the case file before the appointment, so the time is spent on your questions rather than on taking down the facts.

The initial consultation is not the same as representation. If the lawyer then writes to the opposing party or files a claim, a mandate with its own fees begins, based on the value in dispute and the scope of work. Offsetting is important here: if you instruct the lawyer with the matter after the consultation, the consultation fee is offset against the later fees, unless agreed otherwise. As a result, the initial consultation then costs nothing extra.

When legal expenses insurance pays

If you have legal expenses insurance, it usually covers the consultation costs if the area of law is insured, the waiting period has expired and the case arose after the policy started. Many policies include an excess, often 150 or 300 euros per case. Some insurers reduce or waive it if you choose one of their partner lawyers. Which lawyer you choose is still up to you.

On Rechtigo, you enter your insurance when you describe your case: insurer, policy number, excess and, if you wish, a photo of the policy. The case roadmap tells you in advance whether cases in your area of law are covered by most policies or whether a specific module is needed, such as “Housing” for tenancy law or “Employment” for employment law. The lawyer sees your details before the appointment and submits the coverage request before any costs arise. If the insurer confirms, the lawyer releases this in your case file, and you see “Coverage confirmed” there.

Advice assistance on a low income

People with little money do not have to go without legal advice. With an advice assistance certificate (Beratungshilfeschein) from the Local Court, you pay the lawyer a fee of 15 euros; the state covers the rest. You apply for the certificate at the Local Court where you live before you go to the lawyer, with proof of income, assets and ongoing costs. Advice assistance is available for out-of-court advice and representation; for court proceedings, there is legal aid (Prozesskostenhilfe) instead. It is best to check directly with the lawyer whether they take on advice assistance mandates.

Who does not need an initial consultation

In some cases, going via a consultation is not worthwhile because it is clear that a lawyer has to act, for example with a dismissal shortly before the deadline for filing a claim expires, or with an administrative fine notice. You then instruct the lawyer directly, and the costs are based on the RVG or on an agreement. In the first meeting, the lawyer explains what costs may arise and who will ultimately bear them. If you win a civil case, the opposing party usually has to reimburse your lawyer's fees. An important exception applies at the Labour Court: there, in the first instance, each side bears its own lawyer's fees, even if it wins.

How to keep costs under control

• Check the lawyer card to see how the lawyer charges for the initial consultation before you book.
• Enter your legal expenses insurance when you describe your case, so that the lawyer can clarify coverage before the appointment.
• If you are on a low income, ask the Local Court about advice assistance.
• Ask in the meeting what a mandate would cost afterwards and whether the consultation fee will be offset.
• Cancel any appointment you cannot attend more than 24 hours in advance.

This article provides general information and does not replace advice on individual cases. Amounts as of: October 2026.

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